The Rose Parade fills Pasadena’s Colorado Boulevard with flower-covered floats, marching bands and horses every New Year’s Day. The 138th parade starts at 8am on Friday, January 1, 2027, and the 2027 theme is “Welcome”. You can buy a grandstand seat or claim a free spot on the curb, and either way the details matter: when to arrive, where to park and what you can bring. This guide covers what the Tournament of Roses, Visit Pasadena and the City of Pasadena have published for the 2027 parade.
In this guide
It is part of our Los Angeles events calendar. For the night before, see our New Year’s Eve in Los Angeles guide.
Rose Parade 2027 at a glance
- Date and time Friday, January 1, 2027, 8am to about 10am
- Edition 138th Rose Parade, followed by the 113th Rose Bowl Game
- Route 5.5 miles, Green Street and Orange Grove Boulevard to Sierra Madre Boulevard and Villa Street
- Grandstand seats Sharp Seating, $82 to $133 depending on location
- Curb spots Free, from noon on December 31
- Transit Metro A Line: Del Mar, Memorial Park, Lake and Allen stations
- Weather rule The parade runs rain or shine, and umbrellas are not allowed
The route
The route is 5.5 miles long. The parade starts at the corner of Green Street and Orange Grove Boulevard, heads north on Orange Grove, then turns east onto Colorado Boulevard. Near the end it turns north on Sierra Madre Boulevard and finishes at Villa Street. Floats move at about 2.5 miles per hour, and it takes about two hours for the whole parade to pass any one point.
The corner of Orange Grove and Colorado is where the television cameras are, and the seats there are inside a security zone. Colorado Boulevard has the longest stretch of curb and grandstands.
Grandstand seats
Sharp Seating is the official ticket office for the Tournament of Roses. Grandstand prices range from $82 to $133 depending on location. Sharp Seating also sells reserved parking near the seats, and Visit Pasadena suggests buying parking at the same time as tickets.
Arrival times matter:
- Seats on Orange Grove Boulevard between Colorado and Green Street are inside the Tournament’s security zone. You need your ticket to enter, and you should be in your seat by 6:30am.
- West of Fair Oaks Avenue, aim to be seated by 7am.
- Elsewhere, aim to be seated by 8am.
- Wherever you sit, plan to reach the area at least two hours before the start.
Watching from the curb for free
Watching from the sidewalk is free, and many families make a night of it. The City of Pasadena’s rules:
- You can claim a spot on the sidewalk along the route starting at noon on December 31.
- People and belongings, such as blankets and chairs, must stay on the curb until 11pm. After that you can move out to the blue “Honor Line” painted on the street, but not past it.
- Overnight camping is allowed only on the night of December 31.
- Tents, sofas and boxes used as seats are not allowed. Unoccupied chairs will be removed.
- Do not use tape, rope or paint to save spots. Blocking or roping off public areas is not allowed.
- Small manufactured barbecues raised at least one foot off the ground are allowed if they are 25 feet from buildings and you have a fire extinguisher. Bonfires are illegal.
- Ladders and scaffolding are not allowed.
- Minors can be on the route from 10pm to 5am only with an adult.
- Throwing objects, including tortillas, marshmallows or flowers, is prohibited.
- Drones are banned under a federal flight restriction.
Nights in Pasadena are cold at the end of December. Bring warm layers, hats and gloves, and food and drinks for the night.
Getting there
Metro A Line
The Metro A Line is the easiest way in. Visit Pasadena lists four stations close to the route:
| Station | Walk to the route |
|---|---|
| Del Mar | About 0.3 miles north |
| Memorial Park | About 0.2 miles south |
| Lake | About 0.4 miles south |
| Allen | About 0.4 miles south |
Service starts around 4am on parade day. Load your TAP card or TAP app with round-trip fare before you go to skip the lines at the machines afterward. Our LA Metro guide covers fares.
Driving and parking
Colorado Boulevard closes to cars at 10pm on December 31, and driving across the route closes at 6am on parade day. Plan to park before 6am, and do not rely on GPS, since navigation apps may not show the closures. No parking is allowed on the route itself, and cars left there are towed. Pasadena suspends its overnight parking citations from December 23 to January 3, but red curbs, driveways and hydrants are enforced at all times.
Paid parking is also available at lots and garages near the route on a first-come basis. RV spots along the route are sold in advance through Sharp Seating.
What to bring and leave at home
Packing list
- Bring a rain poncho or jacket. Umbrellas are not allowed anywhere on the route, including the grandstands.
- Bring warm layers for the early morning.
- Leave pets at home. Visit Pasadena advises against bringing them.
- Do not bring horns. Selling or giving them away on the route is illegal.
- Smoking and vaping are not allowed at the parade.
The parade runs rain or shine, and there are no refunds for rain.
Events around the parade
Bandfest and Equestfest
Bandfest, where the parade’s marching bands perform their field shows, is on December 29 and 30, 2026. Equestfest, a show by the parade’s equestrian units, is on December 29, 2026, from 10am to 3pm. Tickets for both are sold through Sharp Seating.
Floatfest
After the parade, the floats are parked for close-up viewing at Floatfest, near Sierra Madre and Washington Boulevards, from January 1 to 3, 2027. Tickets are $26.50. This is the best chance to see the flowers and seeds on the floats up close.
Float decorating
Volunteers help decorate floats in the days before the parade. Visit Pasadena lists ways to sign up if you want to take part.
Watching on TV
The parade is carried live by several television networks in the United States and abroad. If you would rather stay warm, this is the easy option.
Where to stay
Pasadena has everything from historic hotels to chain hotels and motels, and rooms book up for New Year’s. If Pasadena is full, a hotel near an A Line station elsewhere works too. See our where to stay in Los Angeles guide.
Frequently asked questions
What time does the Rose Parade start in 2027?
At 8am on Friday, January 1, 2027. It takes about two hours to pass any point on the route.
How much are Rose Parade tickets?
Grandstand seats sold by Sharp Seating range from $82 to $133. Watching from the curb is free.
When can you start camping for the Rose Parade?
At noon on December 31. You must stay on the curb until 11pm, then you can move up to the blue Honor Line.
Can I bring an umbrella to the Rose Parade?
No. Umbrellas are not allowed on the route, including in the grandstands. Bring a poncho or rain jacket.
What is the best way to get to the Rose Parade?
The Metro A Line. Del Mar, Memorial Park, Lake and Allen stations are all within half a mile of the route.
Official sources: Tournament of Roses; Visit Pasadena Rose Parade guide; City of Pasadena parade safety tips; Sharp Seating; LA Metro.